Turkey Yacht Charter
Crewed gulets, catamarans and motor yachts from Bodrum and Göcek, from about €10,000 a week plus 20% VAT. Broker-led since 1992.
Reviewed by Adrian Sneed, Charter Broker at Sneed Charters — a family brokerage arranging Mediterranean charters since 1992.
IN SHORT
As an example, a crewed gulet in Turkey starts around €10,000 a week and a crewed catamaran around €15,000. Add an APA of 25–35% (an advance for fuel, food and berths; whatever is unspent comes back to you) and Turkish VAT of 20% on the charter fee. Most weeks start at Bodrum or Göcek, between May and October, and your broker quotes the actual yacht for your dates.
Where to start: Bodrum, Göcek or further east
Most Turkish weeks start at Bodrum or Göcek. Bodrum is served by Milas–Bodrum Airport (BJV); Göcek and Fethiye by Dalaman Airport (DLM).
Bodrum
The Castle of St. Peter, a lively waterfront at night, and quiet coves along the Bodrum Peninsula and the Gulf of Gökova.
Göcek
A sailing base set among sheltered, pine-backed bays and small islands in the Gulf of Fethiye.
Fethiye and Ölüdeniz
The Blue Lagoon at Ölüdeniz, the abandoned village of Kayaköy and the Lycian rock tombs cut into the cliffs.
Marmaris
A large marina with bays close by, and the ancient city of Kaunos up the Dalyan River.
Kaş and Kalkan
Two small Mediterranean towns further east, with ancient ruins and good diving.
The Greek Dodecanese, Rhodes, Symi and Kos, lie just off this coast. Whether your week can include them depends on the yacht and the paperwork, so ask your broker, and see the Dodecanese on our Greece yacht charter page.
For more on the country itself, see the official Go Türkiye tourism site.
A sample week: Bodrum to Fethiye
One way along the coast, west to east: board at Bodrum, step off at Fethiye for Dalaman Airport. A one-way week can carry a delivery fee, which we quote before you sign. Your captain sets the final route on the forecast.
7-day Turkey itinerary: one way from Bodrum to Fethiye
- Day 1
Boarding at Bodrum
Transfer from Milas–Bodrum Airport (BJV) and board at Bodrum Marina. Walk up to the Castle of St. Peter, built by the Knights of St John, then dinner aboard or on the waterfront.
- Day 2
Bodrum to Knidos
South across the mouth of the Gulf of Gökova to Knidos, the ruined Greek city at the tip of the Datça Peninsula, with its two ancient harbours. Swim off the yacht and stay at anchor.
- Day 3
Knidos to the Datça Peninsula
East along the peninsula in short hops between coves, with lunch ashore in a village.
- Day 4
Datça to Ekincik and the Dalyan River
East past Marmaris to Ekincik Bay. From there a local riverboat runs up the Dalyan River, under the rock tombs of Kaunos, to İztuzu Beach, where loggerhead turtles nest. Night at anchor in Ekincik.
- Day 5
Ekincik to Göcek
The longest leg of the week, east into the Gulf of Fethiye. Night in one of the sheltered, pine-backed bays among Göcek’s islands.
- Day 6
Göcek to Ölüdeniz and Fethiye
Down the gulf to Ölüdeniz for a swim in the lagoon, with paragliders coming off Babadağ above it, then Fethiye for the last night, under the rock tomb of Amyntas in the cliff above the town.
- Day 7
Fethiye, and home
Breakfast aboard, then the transfer from Fethiye to Dalaman Airport (DLM).
Want this week planned around your dates and the yacht you have in mind?
Your broker builds the route around your party, the yacht and the forecast for that week.
Plan my weekWhen to go: May to October
The Turkish charter season runs from May to October, and we recommend every month of it for the coast from Bodrum to Göcek. June and September are the sweet spot: warm sea without the July and August heat. Bodrum averages 30°C in June and 29°C in September, against 33°C in July.
| Month | Air | Sea | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | 25°C (77°F) | 19°C (66°F) | Shoulder |
| June | 30°C (86°F) | 22°C (72°F) | Shoulder |
| July | 33°C (91°F) | 23°C (73°F) | Peak |
| August | 32°C (90°F) | 25°C (77°F) | Peak |
| September | 29°C (84°F) | 24°C (75°F) | Shoulder |
| October | 24°C (75°F) | 22°C (72°F) | Shoulder |
The afternoon wind: the meltemi
Summer afternoons bring the meltemi, a north-north-westerly that rises towards midday and dies down at sunset. On the Bodrum peninsula and in the Gulf of Gökova it is the prevailing summer wind, and local pilots describe it as refreshing rather than harmful. Göcek’s bays, in the Gulf of Fethiye further east, are more sheltered.
Your captain plans around it: longer passages in the morning, and at anchor by mid-afternoon when the breeze fills in. Read more in our guide to the meltemi.
What a crewed week in Turkey costs
A crewed gulet starts around €10,000 a week and a crewed catamaran around €15,000; sailing yachts, motor yachts and superyachts run above that. The weekly rate is what the yacht’s owner charges for the boat and crew. On top of it come three things: an APA, 20% VAT and a crew tip, shown line by line below.
Gulet
- Example weekly rate
- €10,000–€40,000+
- Typical size
- 22–35 m (72–115 ft)
- Guests
- 8–12
The traditional Turkish week: slow cruising, big decks, large families.
Pictured: a gulet at anchor, from above
Crewed catamaran
- Example weekly rate
- €15,000–€60,000
- Typical size
- 45–75 ft
- Guests
- 6–10
Stable at anchor and roomy on deck: first charters.
Pictured: a catamaran in Sarsala Bay, near Göcek
Sailing yacht
- Example weekly rate
- €30,000–€250,000
- Typical size
- 75–150 ft
- Guests
- 6–12
Actually sailing rather than motoring between bays: the afternoon breeze west of Göcek is reliable.
Pictured: sailing yachts in a bay near Göcek
Motor yacht
- Example weekly rate
- €60,000–€250,000
- Typical size
- 75–130 ft
- Guests
- 8–12
Covering more coast in a day, Bodrum to Göcek with time to spare.
Pictured: a motor yacht under way off Ölüdeniz
Superyacht
- Example weekly rate
- €250,000–€500,000+
- Typical size
- 130 ft and above
- Guests
- 10–12
Full service, the most space and the largest crew.
Pictured: a large motor yacht off Marmaris
Example weekly rates for crewed yachts in Turkey, May to October, before APA, 20% VAT and gratuity. Examples only: the owner sets each yacht’s rate, and your broker quotes the actual yacht for your dates. To see individual yachts, search our fleet.
What a week actually costs, all in
A €40,000 charter fee is not what leaves your account. Add an APA of 25–35% and 20% Turkish VAT on the fee, and the realistic total is €58,000 to €62,000, roughly 45 to 55% above the headline. A crew gratuity of 10–15% is customary and sits on top.
| Line | Low case | High case |
|---|---|---|
| Charter fee | €40,000 | €40,000 |
| APA at 25–35% | €10,000 | €14,000 |
| Turkish VAT at 20% on the fee | €8,000 | €8,000 |
| All in | €58,000 | €62,000 |
The APA is a float, not a fee: whatever is unspent comes back to you. A one-way week or a yacht repositioned for you adds a delivery fee, quoted before you sign. See our full guide to yacht charter costs, or compare Turkey with the rest of the region on our Mediterranean charter page.
Want this worked out for a real yacht and your dates?
Get My ShortlistYour broker replies within one business day with yachts that are actually free for your week, priced with APA and VAT included. No fee to you.
What is included, and what is not
The weekly rate covers the yacht and crew, running costs come out of the APA, and a few items sit outside both.
In the charter fee 4 items
- Yacht and full crew: captain, cook, deck, interior
- Insurance and running maintenance
- Water toys and tenders aboard
- Menus planned around your tastes and allergies
Paid from the APA 4 items
- Fuel for the yacht and tenders
- All food and drink
- Berths, moorings and port fees
- Communications, laundry, deliveries
Outside both 4 items
- Turkish VAT: 20% on the charter fee
- Crew gratuity, 10–15%, your choice
- Delivery fees, if the yacht repositions
- Flights, hotels and travel insurance
To protect the deposit against a change of plans, see trip cancellation insurance.
Your brokers
You get a named broker, not a call centre. The same person takes your first message, negotiates the contract and is reachable while you are aboard.
Hansel Sneed
Founder & Charter Broker
Hansel founded Sneed Charters in 1992 and has been placing crewed charters for more than thirty years.
Adrian Sneed
Charter Broker
Adrian is the broker who reviewed this page, and the person who will answer when you send your dates.
Get a shortlist for your dates
Tell us the group, the dates and roughly what you want to spend. Your broker comes back with yachts that are actually free for your week.
- Reply within one business day
- Priced with APA and VAT included
- No fee to you
Prefer to talk it through? Call 1-561-463-6840 or message us on WhatsApp.
What happens after you send it
- Your broker checks which yachts are genuinely free for your week.
- You get a shortlist with landed costs: charter fee, APA estimate, VAT and any delivery fee.
- You choose. We negotiate and contract the charter, and you pay the deposit on signing.
Turkey yacht charter FAQs
How much does it cost to charter a yacht in Turkey for a week?
As examples, a crewed gulet starts around €10,000 a week and a crewed catamaran around €15,000. Motor yachts of 75–130 feet run €60,000 to €250,000, and superyachts start around €250,000. Add an APA of 25–35%, Turkish VAT of 20% on the charter fee, and a customary crew gratuity of 10–15%.
How much VAT do I pay on a Turkey yacht charter?
Turkish VAT is 20% of the charter fee, up from 18% since July 2023. On a €40,000 week that is €8,000. It sits on top of the APA and the crew gratuity, and your broker confirms the VAT for the specific yacht before you sign.
What is a gulet?
A gulet is a traditional wooden motor-sailer from Turkey’s south-west coast, built for slow cruising between anchorages rather than fast sailing. Most have several en-suite cabins below and a wide aft deck for meals outside, with a captain, cook and deckhands aboard. It is the classic way to spend a week on the Turkish coast.
Should I charter a gulet, a catamaran or a motor yacht in Turkey?
A gulet suits slow cruising and larger groups, with big decks for meals outside. A crewed catamaran is stable at anchor and roomy on deck, which makes it a good first charter. A motor yacht covers more coast in a day, so Bodrum to Göcek fits in a week with time to spare. Your broker matches the yacht to your group.
When is the best time to charter a yacht in Turkey?
May to October, and we recommend every month of it for the coast from Bodrum to Göcek. June and September are the sweet spot: Bodrum averages about 30°C in June and 29°C in September, against 33°C in July, with the sea at 22–24°C. Summer afternoons bring the meltemi, a refreshing north-westerly breeze.
Where do Turkish yacht charters start?
Most start at Bodrum or Göcek. Bodrum is served by Milas–Bodrum Airport (BJV), and Göcek and Fethiye by Dalaman Airport (DLM). A week can also run one way between the two, which usually adds a delivery fee that we quote before you sign.
What is APA on a yacht charter?
APA, the Advance Provisioning Allowance, is a float paid on top of the charter fee, usually 25–35% of it, to cover fuel, food and drink, berths and port fees during the week. The captain keeps receipts, and whatever is unspent comes back to you at the end.
Do I pay a fee to use a charter broker?
No. The yacht’s owner pays our commission, and the charter rate is the same whether you book through us or direct. You get a named broker who sends a shortlist of yachts actually free for your dates, priced with APA and VAT, and who stays reachable while you are aboard.
SOURCES
- MYBA, The Worldwide Yachting Association — the MYBA Charter Agreement and APA
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries, Turkey — the 20% general VAT rate
- weather2travel.com, Bodrum climate — monthly air and sea temperatures
- CoastGuideTR, Gulf of Gökova — the summer meltemi
- Go Türkiye — the official tourism portal